Give The Lord Equal Time

From a CES fireside by Elder Ballard:

"Some years ago one of my missionaries came to see me.  He said: "President, I am losing my testimony.  I have some questions tha tno one will answer for me.  My bishop and stake president just told me to forget them, and they had no answers."  I asked for his questions in writing and then suggested he come to see me in 10 days, and I would answer every one of his questions. As he was leaving my office, I was prompted to ask him, “Elder, how long has it been since you have read from the scriptures?” He acknowledged that it had been a long time.

I said: “You have given me an assignment; it’s only fair that I give you one. You read at least one hour from the scriptures each day until you come back for your answers.” He agreed to do this. When he came back, I was ready. He said: “President, I don’t need the answers. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet. I’m OK now.” I replied: “You will get your answers anyway. I worked hard on them!” All of this anti-Mormon stuff was what we were dealing with. After our discussion I asked him, “Elder, what have you learned from all of this?” And he gave me a very significant response: “I’ve learned to give the Lord equal time!”

Elder M. Russell Ballard, CES Fireside, 7 Nov 2010

Conference Ensign

The Conference Ensign from this past April's General Conference just arrived in the mail.  While listening to Conference I thought I heard family and home mentioned in almost every talk.  So I'm reading through it and underlining in green every reference that teaches about or mentions home and family and it's importance.

On a personal note and since yesterday was Mother's Day, I'll add that I'm so thankful to be a mother, I feel so lucky that I am healthy and strong and able to have all these kids.  I recently went and got my hair trimmed.  As I was leaving, they asked if I'd like to reschedule a follow-up appointment right now, and if I did I get whatever incentive.  I said no thanks, I don't know when I'll have the time in my schedule to get away again.  The lady who cuts my hair says "I can understand that" and turning to the recpetionist says "She's got 9 kids!"  "Almost nine" I replied with a smile as I pat my pregnant belly.  "Eight and a half..."  The guy checking me out just said "wow".  "It's a lot of fun..." I continued, and I do love it more than anything, but given the situation and that this person wasn't really interetsed, I just left it at that, and I thought of this scripture in Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I felt a little silly trying to share that it's fun being a parent.  It's just not believeable, unless you're already a parent and already know.  It's much more easy to be persuaded that there's much more fun out there in the world to be had if we're free from the burden of caring for children.  Having kids sounds like foolishness.  But being a mother has brought me joy I didn't know existed, and that I didn't even know I wanted.  I'm thankful for the promptings of the spirit and the words of the prophet that have led me on this wonderful path of motherhood.

President Monson in this talk:
It may appear to you at times that those out in the world are having much more fun than you are. Some of you may feel restricted by the code of conduct to which we in the Church adhere. My brothers and sisters, I declare to you, however, that there is nothing which can bring more joy into our lives or more peace to our souls than the Spirit which can come to us as we follow the Savior and keep the commandments. That Spirit cannot be present at the kinds of activities in which so much of the world participates. The Apostle Paul declared the truth: “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”⁴The term natural man can refer to any of us if we allow ourselves to be so.